Feet for display signs



H. T. HALLUVVELL FEET FOR DISPLAY SIGNS Aug. 3'11, 192$.

Filed Sept. 12, 1922 2 'shee'ts sheet 1 Ag l 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

Ina 31% Patented Aug. 31, lfi tio FEET FOB DISPLAY SIGNS.

Application file septeznber One object of this invention is to provide a novel form of foot for supporting frames such as those commonly employed for advertising or display purposes, the invention contemplating a simple, rir and relative ly inexpensive construction of substantial and ornamental appearance.

It is further desired to provide a novel method for fori'ning a sign foot from suitable sheet mat al with the expenditure of a minimum of said material.

These objects and other advantageous ends I attain as hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a sign frame, showing my improved foot structures applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a detached perspective view of one of the feet;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a sheet metal blank from which the foot may be made;

Fig. 1 is a perspective view, showing a .1 4 Z partially formed loot made lrom the blank illustrated in Fi 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of a slightly modified form of foot;

6 is a perspective View of another modified form of the foot;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the sheet metal blank from which the foot illustrated in Fig. 6 is made; and

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view of a still further modification of the invention.

In carrying out my invention I employ sheet steel of suitable thickness and in order to construct one fo m of my sign foot by means of suitable dies, 1 first for a a flat blank such as is shown in Fig. 3. This includes a substantially rectangular body por tion 1 from which project three elongated and substantially rectangular tongues 22 and 3, of which the latter lies between and parallel with the other two, but from which it is separated by slots 44t;-its length be ing preferably slightly more than half that of the tongues 2.

A. series of holes 5-5 may be formed in the body 1 and in the middle tongue 3, either when the blank is formed or subsequently, after which said blank is subjected to the action of a press, whereby the two tongues are given a similar curved outline so that they project to one side of the plane of the body 1 and tongue 3, while their extremities 12. 1922. Serial No. 587,720.

6 bent so that they lie in a plane at right angles to said plane of the body.

This partially fori'ned structure, shown in at, is now ected to another pressing or forming operation whereby the longitudinal sides of the body 1 are turned at right angles so as to lie parallel with each other, as indicated at 7 in Fig. 2, and the legs formed by the curved tongues 2 are thus each swung through 90 so that they curve in opposite directions. a ay from the base of the channel-shaped body portion. At the same time the tongue 3 is likewise bent at right a ice to the main portion of the body to consu ute the bottom thereof as shown in Fig. 2; it being noted that by reason of the slots l 1- its edges are spaced away from the adjacent portions of the parts 2.

If, as in Figs. 1 to f inclusive, the pertions 6 are integral with the side members P 2, they constitute the ground-engaging portions of the foot, and said side members are preferably tied together and braced by a transverse element in the form of a bar 8 whose ends are riveted to said members. If desired, I may omit the portions 6 from the blank, merely giving the tongues 2 an arcuate form, and providing a base member 8" in the form of a relatively heavy elongated. bar having at its ends portions 6 offset adj acent said portions to fit between the curved legs 2 of the pressed up structure. These, as before, are connected to the base member by rivets 10 see Fig. 5.

The central tongue of each foot serves as a bottom for the channel-shaped body portion of the finished foot and extends under the bottom of the rectangular sign frame m, as shown clearly in Fig. 1. The channel-shaped body of each foot section is so shaped as to fit closely the side members of the frame Screws, or bolts, extend through the holes 5 of the body portion and the bottom extension 3 and into the frame in. This construction not only rigidly supports the frame on the feet, but also strengthens the corner joints of the frame, making a substantial structure. The legs are preferably formed of pressed up ribs 12 or 12*, which stiffen the legs, particularly at the point'of junction with the body portion.

In that form of the invention shown in 5, the base member 8 is preferably made of abnormal weight so as to add stability to the combined structure formed by the sign frame and its two feet and the latter are connected to the sign frame by bolts or screws passed throu h the holes 5.

Without departing from my invention, I may make the foot as shown in Fig. 6 with curved legs 2 and a substantially cylindrical body portion 13 formed by rolling up a substantially rectangular piece of sheet metal, Fig. 7, to which both legs are attached. This body is integrally connected to tl e legs at one sine and is preferably open to provide a longitudinally extending slot 14': at the opposite side for receiving a vertical sign or fra ne structure to which it is attached.

From the above description it will be appreciated that the foot made in accordance with my invention is not only relatively strong and rugged, but may be economically made with a minimum of labor and material; it being noted that by providing the slots athere are in the finished brackets openings between the sides or 7 and the bottom tongue 3 which permit of the free running out of any water running down the sides of a sign supported by a pair of said brackets.

Under certain conditions and without departing from my invention, the tongue 3 may be omitted and as shown in Fig. 8, replaced by an angle piece 20. One branch of this latter extends parallel and in engage ment with the face of the body 1, while the other branch projects horizontally in position to engage and support the bottom edge of a sign frame or equivalent structure.

I claim 1. As a new article of manufacture, a struck up sheet metal foot for a sign, consisting of a. body portion having a flange at each side; a leg forming a continuation of each flange and extending below the body portion; a tongue forming a continuation of the body portion and bent at right angles and extending between the legs and forming a bottom support for a. sign to which the foot is attached.

2. The combination of a sign; two supporting the said sign, each foot being at a lower corner of the the said being made of struck up sheet n ll and having a body portion flanged to form supports for the sign; two lees on each foot portion extending at right angles to the body of the sign, each foot portion having an integral tongue bent at right angles to the body portion and extending betr "en the legs and forming the bottom support for the sign to which it is secured; and a brace tending from one leg to the other below tongue.

3. The combination of a rectangular .3 a foot located at each lower corner of the sign and forming a. corner brace for the sign, each foot being made of struck up sheet metal and consisting of a. body portion having a flange at each side forrling a channel for the sign; two legs integral with the body portion and forming a continuation of the flanges; a tongue forming a continuation of the body portion and bent at right angles to said body portion. said tongue extending between the legs and projecting at one side thereof and forming a brace support for the sign; a brace extending from one leg to the other below the tongue; and means for attaching the body portion and tongues of the feet to the sign.

HO'WARD T. HrlLLOl'fELL. 

